Castlecoote

Castlecoote^[1] (otherwise known in Irish: Bhaile Mhic Oireachtaigh^[2]) is a townland within the civil parish of Fuerty on the R366 regional road near the town of Roscommon in County Roscommon, Ireland. Castlecoote is known for Castlecoote house and the ruins of a much older castle.^[3] The River Suck, which encircles Castlecoote House, is renowned for its trout and coarse fishing.^[4]

Castlecoote Bhaile Mhic Oireachtaigh
Townland
Castlecoote house
Castlecoote Location in Ireland
Coordinates: 53.613102°N 8.291622°W / 53.613102; -8.291622
Country	Ireland
Province	Connacht
County	County Roscommon
Named after	Coote Family
Time zone	WET
• Summer (DST)	IST (WEST)

History

Castlecoote's English name is derived from 'Coote', literally translated meaning 'Coote's Castle', in which Sir Charles Coote, 'President of Connaught' during the rebellion of 1641 lived.^[5] Castlecoote is a primarily agricultural village.

Castlecoote House

Castlecoote House, built on the site of a medieval castle from between 1570 and 1616, once served as the base for the MacGeraghtys of Fuerty, was later fortified by the owner, Sir Charles Coote, in 1616. It was attacked three times in the 1640s by Irish Confederates. ^[6]

The present house was constructed later and was built within the enclosure of the now ruinous old castle. In the basement tower rooms, the musket chambers overlook the entrance steps. In the 18th century the property was under the ownership of the Gunnings. The two famous Gunning sisters, renowned for their beauty, lived here.^[7] In the 20th century the house was occupied by an equestrian, Henry D. Strevens. The present owner restored the property after purchasing it in 1997 in a derelict condition.^[8]

Culture

The town is situated in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Elphin and is served by a church in the village. There are several pubs in the vicinity as well as the Castlecoote stores and a disused stone mill.^[9] The village has been awarded a category A gold medal at the 2019 Tidy Towns competition.^[10]

The ruin of the SE corner flanking tower on the lawn in front of the house. Part of the old castle's C17 fortifications.

See also

• List of townlands of County Roscommon
• List of towns and villages in Ireland
• Cromwellian conquest of Ireland

Further reading

• Gantz, Ida. The Pastel Portrait. The Gunnings of CastleCoote and Howards of Hampstead. /Cresset press 1963
• The Dublin Saturday Magazine (Volume 2; 1867) Castlecoote
• The Genealogist (Volume 5; 1889) Castlecoote